Wheel Weight Reduction Mod?

[smoke20]

Now that I have sorted out the 'gray bars', I am moving on to aftermarket wheels/tires. I have done some searching, here, but can't quite find the answer to my question in one simple thread. Here is that question:

For those who have replaced the factory 20" set-up with something lighter, do you sense you can feel any improvements in 'throttle' responsiveness and or ride quality (with a lighter set-up being able to respond better to road imperfections). There is something to unsprung weigh reduction, I am just wondering about anybody's personal experience with this vehicle.

Sponsored

 

[azerik]

I think you'll have a very hard time shaving any noticeable weight off. The factory tires are around 60 to 63#'s with wheels. Finding light weight wheels that can take the weight will be costly. You'll still be in the 29 inch tires size and probably will lessen traction if anything by going wider. (the width to traction ratio varies greatly even just between tires with all other factors the same) The wheel weight is around 27 to 30 lbs. stock. Good luck on the hunt.

 

[buzznwood]

Are you planning on tracking the mach-e GTPE you are considering? Honestly it weights the same as a bus and handles like one when pushed its no canyon carver, yes the batteries offer a lower center of gravity but it is still going to be higher than a low slung sports car and while reducing unsprung weight means better damping control and helps with increasing the tires contact patch and hence overall grip you are starting out with a very heavy vehicle not a Miata.

You would be better of investing in some better tires as IMO the OEM Pirelli the GTPE comes on are rubbish but like all EVS a compromise is needed when trading performance and range.

One advantage I would say that going with a different wheel & tire package is that the standard size really limits what tire choices fit as its only a 8" width. No doubt in an effort to get the best range but ford really undersized the wheels widths and tires in comparison to the competition,

 

[markboris]

Now that I have sorted out the 'gray bars', I am moving on to aftermarket wheels/tires. I have done some searching, here, but can't quite find the answer to my question in one simple thread. Here is that question:

For those who have replaced the factory 20" set-up with something lighter, do you sense you can feel any improvements in 'throttle' responsiveness and or ride quality (with a lighter set-up being able to respond better to road imperfections). There is something to unsprung weigh reduction, I am just wondering about anybody's personal experience with this vehicle.

I have a few comments on this which I have mentioned in a couple of other wheel threads.

Reducing unsprung weight makes a considerable difference in the ride of the car over irregular road surfaces, steering feels lighter, handles better throttle snappier, etc. Unfortunately it is not very noticeable, if at all, in the Mach-E as it weighs quite a bit to start with.

I changed out my 20" GTPE wheels (33 lbs each) with much lighter forged aluminum wheels. I run a staggered setup and front wheels weigh 22 lbs, rears 23 lbs. That's 42 lbs weight reduction. The wheels however are larger than OEM's at 20"x9" front and 20"x10.5" rear which require larger tires (which is what I was after). The OEM tires are 27 lbs each. My summer tires (Michelin Pilot Sport 4s) are 30 lbs front (275/40/20) and 33 lbs rear (315/35/20). That brings the total weight reduction down to 24 lbs. My winter tires (Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season Plus) are 33 lbs front (265/45/20) and 36 lbs rear (295/40/20). That brings the total weight reduction down to 12 lbs. All of that being said, I really don't notice any difference with either the 12 or 24 unsprung weight reduction probably because it is not that much of a reduction and the car weighs so much. I recently changed out my all seasons with a new EV tuned Pirelli P Zero All Season tire specifically designed for the BMW i7. These tires are the lightest staggered setup I have ever run with the fronts being 28 lbs and rears at 30 lbs.



I reduced the unsprung weight in my GT500 by 142 lbs and that was very noticeable. Probably one of the best mods I've done to that car. It does help that the 500 weighs 1100 lbs less than the Mach-E. I changed out my stock wheels for forged aluminum same size, replaced all four cast iron brake rotors with two piece carbon ceramic/aluminum rotors and changed to titanium lug nuts. I kept the OEM Ford Performance specific Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires.

If you are thinking of gaining any range by reducing the weight of your wheels, I don't think you will gain much if anything at all. It is the design of the wheel (air flow, wind resistance) that really matters if you are looking to keep the range you have now. Also, the tire makes a big difference. You want to run either an EV specific tire or one that is at least designed for low rolling resistance. I have tested over 7 different tires on the Mach-E (all were HP summer tires or HP all seasons) and I have specific comments on each one which I have also stated in other threads. Out of the ones I tested, they've all reduced the range somewhat except for one. The tire I'm running right now is a BMW specific Pirelli P Zero All Season EV tuned tire designed for and standard on the i7. As soon as I put that tire on, I've been getting a bit more range so probably something to be said for an EV tuned tire.

 

[smoke20]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. They generally align with my beliefs. I am not tracking this vehicle. And my arse probably cannot differentiate a 0.2 difference in 60 time...but if it is there I want it. My problem is that I am an anal retentive engineer, and when it comes to automotive performance...enough is just not enough...even if I am splitting hairs. It is a mental illness, but I cannot help it and I don't foresee me changing, hehe.

I am a bit of fan the Continental DWS06 having used them on a Stelvio Quadrifoglio and recently on an AMG GLC63. I would like to consider using these in place of the OE tire on this MME. They are fairly light at 25 lbs. I am not super concerned about loss of range...but maybe I will be.

The 20" OE rims are reportedly 'heavy' but probably just fine. I see several members have tried the ASA rims from Tire Rack (stock size) and seem to be very pleased. These are 26ish lbs. These are super inexpensive and no match for forged.

I tossed this out also to see if somewhere, by chance, somebody had done a before and after dragy since there is really no other available mod. We are boxed into a corner with performance mods....no CAI, no headers, no SC, no bigger turbo, no downpipes, no catless exhaust, etc. All I can think of this wheels and tires at this time. Like I said, I am mentally ill and seem to need to fool with everything.

 

[markboris]

I am a bit of fan the Continental DWS06 having used them on a Stelvio Quadrifoglio and recently on an AMG GLC63. I would like to consider using these in place of the OE tire on this Mach-E. They are fairly light at 25 lbs. I am not super concerned about loss of range...but maybe I will be.

Like I said, I am mentally ill and seem to need to fool with everything.

The Continental DWS 06 Plus is a great Ultra High Performance All Season tire. It's my favorite in that category. If you wanted to eke out the most performance in an all season tire, the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 would do that for you but at the cost of comfort. They are definitely noisier and ride more firm (I felt way more road irregularities). The Mach-E is a fairly quiet car and I don't mind giving up that last bit of grip for a more comfortable, quieter ride.

I'd say I'm not too far off from your illness either.... ?

 

[HuntingPudel]

I'd say I'm not too far off from your illness either.... ?

LOL I think a lot of us have this issue. How many of us bought a brand new car with the full intention of an engine swap and suspension mods? ??

 

[markboris]

LOL I think a lot of us have this issue. How many of us bought a brand new car with the full intention of an engine swap and suspension mods? ??

I've never done an engine swap but I've never left the suspension stock on any car I've owned.

 

[smoke20]

There is good news, though. You really can't break this car with mods....(I think).

Several years I had a Grand Cherokee SRT8. My wife let me take it across 2 states to have a supercharger installed. It seemed like a great idea...for a daily driver. Fun fun fun until I got a check engine light...engine misfire cylinder 7....flattened spark plug. I had to pour a few shots of bourbon before I could tell her it was broken. But then I had a eureka moment; thank you Maker's Mark. I fessed up that it was broken. Her: "How much to fix it?' Me: "I don't know but it will probably break again." Her: "WTF." Me: "I have an idea. We could ship it to Martinsville, VA to Arrington Performance. I know they can fix it." Her: "Ok, do it." Couple weeks later the Jeep is at Arrington and I take my wife for a long weekend get away. Yep, we went to Martinsville to visit the Jeep. We got an entire tour of the dyno facility and motor shop with CNC machines. Lined up were a bunch of motor blocks....with tags. Petty and Keselowski! Brad Keselowski won the NASCAR Sprint Cup series that year with Arrington motors...Dodge's last year. It was all fun until she whispered what does this cost? Me: "Bore and stroke new forged block to 426cu in, valve job with new Arrington performance springs, new transmission, new transfer case, and reinstall the supercharger will cost $XXXX. Her: "WTF! Are you Fing crazy!" That was all that was said on our way home.

2 weeks later the transporter pulled up when I was at work. Wife calls me at work and I drive the wheels off the Volvo to get home. Her: "The driver said he thought Arrington told him the Jeep had 800 HP; I told him I don't think so. It.....doesn't.....does it?" Me: (smile)

If you have read this far, thanks. It actually has put a big smile on my face reliving my old glory days....and may explain why I am poking around for lighter wheels/tires.....and I am still married...31 years now.

 

[azerik]

no CAI, no headers, no SC, no bigger turbo, no downpipes, no catless exhaust, etc. All I can think of this wheels and tires at this time. Like I said, I am mentally ill and seem to need to fool with everything.

Crap. So my forced air induction isn't going to work. Damn.

 

[azerik]

LOL I think a lot of us have this issue. How many of us bought a brand new car with the full intention of an engine swap and suspension mods? ??

"keeping it stock' just means the engine isn't going to come out. Didn't say I couldn't bolt on or remove

The Gen2 Lightnings sometimes got an involuntary Ventilated Block Mod. I protected mine from that by pulling shortly after buying.

Sponsored